Some Facts About Oils

Some Facts about Oils

Different Oils have different Properties

Coconut Oil

One of the most versatile oils you can have on hand, coconut oil is used as an antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral.  It is loaded with fatty acids that go straight to the liver from the digestive tract, where they are used as a quick source energy or turned into so-called ketone bodies, which can have therapeutic effects on brain disorders like epilepsy and Alzheimer’s.

The lauric acid in coconut oil can kill bacteria, viruses and fungi, helping to stave off infections.

Castor Oil

Castor oil is obtained from the castor bean.  It is a versatile oil with many uses.   As an emollient it softens your skin when used externally.  As an humectant it attracts moisture to your skin.  It creates extra lather in soap.  It is used as a laxative in the medical field.  It is even used as a drying oil in paints and varnishes.  In cosmetics it is often used as a thickener.

Avocado OIl

Avocado Oil is rich in Vitamin A, B1, B2, D, and E as well as amino acids, sterols, pantothenic acid, lecithin, and other essential fatty acids. Avocado Oil is great for those with skin ailments such as eczema, psoriasis, and other skin problems.

Since avocado oil easily absorbs into deep tissue with its wonderful emollient properties, it is ideal for mature skins as well as helping to relieve the dryness and itching of psoriasis, eczema and other skin ailments.

Hazelnut Oil

Hazelnut Oil is one of the most highly unsaturated vegetable oils. A recent paper showed that hazelnut oil has phospholipids which give greater and longer-lasting moisturizing potential to cosmetic emulsions.

Hazelnut oil is an emollient and moisturizer.  It is easily absorbed by the skin leaving no oily residue.  It reduces oiliness and refines pores. It is slightly astringent making it a good skin toner. It is touted to produce elastin and collagen fibers for more youthful skin. Due to the high level of vitamin E it contains it is quickly absorbed by the skin and is slow to go rancid.

It might not be good for someone with acne.

Sunflower Oil

Its nutritious composition makes it one of the healthiest oils for consumption as well as application on skin and hair. The main component of sunflower oil is linoleic acid. Its other components include oleic acid and palmitic acid. In addition to these, it contains lecithin, carotenoids, tocopherols and appreciable quantities of vitamins A, D and E.

Higher in vitamin E content than hazelnut oil

Palm Oil

Palm oil prices jumped nearly 70 percent in one year because supply has grown slowly while demand has soared.  Indigenous people who grow and harvest it are starving while being forced to sell their harvest to USA and others.  Many soap makers now choose not to purchase palm oil believing the indigenous people who grow and harvest it, should have first crack at their own produce.

There is much more to the palm oil story.  It is worth researching on the Internet.

Grape Seed Oil

Grape seed oil is a preferred cosmetic ingredient for controlling moisture of the skin. Light and thin, grape seed oil leaves a glossy film over skin when used as a carrier oil for essential oils in aromatherapy. It contains more linoleic acid than many other carrier oils. Grape seed oil is also used as a lubricant for shaving.

Rice Bran Oil

Rice bran oil makes a very gentle and mild bar, great for babies and elder folk’s skin , similar properties to olive oil, can give soap a waxy almost shiny finish.  It has low cleansing properties.

Olive Oil

Olive oil has a long history of being used as a home remedy for skincare. Egyptians used it alongside beeswax as a cleanser, moisturizer, and antibacterial agent since pharaonic times.

One study noted that the abundance of squalene in oils in general shows promise for sufferers of seborrheic dermatitis, acne, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis.

Olive oil has been used to lubricate zippers in addition to a multitude of medicinal and skin care purposes.